In many cases, the strikes were spontaneous outbursts of discontent among unorganized workingmen. Frequently, however, the strikes were either consciously called out or directed by organizations which existed by avoiding the law in various ways.
These organizations were of three different types: the _compagnonnages_, the friendly societies (_mutualités_) and the "societies of resistance".
The _compagnonnages_ originated under the guild-system and can be traced back as far as the fifteenth century. Their development was probably connected with the custom of traveling which became prevalent among the journeymen of France about that time.[14] A journeyman (called _compagnon_ in French) would usually spend some time in visiting the principal cities of France (make his _tour de France_) to perfect himself in his trade. A traveling _compagnon_ would be in need of assistance in many cases and the _compagnonnages_ owed their development to the necessity of meeting this want.
[14] Octave Festy, _Le Movement Ouvrier au Début de la Monarchie de France_ (Paris, 1900), vol. i, pp. 600 _et seq._
The _compagnonnages_ consisted of bachelor journeymen only. If a member married or established himself as master, he left the _compagnonnage_. Besides, admission to the _compagnonnage_ was dependent on tests of moral character and of technical skill. Thus, the _compagnonnages_ always embraced but a small part of the workingmen--the élite from the technical point of view. To attain the required technical standard, members had to pass some time as aspirants before they could become _compagnons_.
The organization of the _compagnonnages_ was very simple. All the _compagnons_ of the same trade lived together in one house, usually in an inn, kept by the so-called _mère_ (mother) or _père_ (father) of the trade. The _compagnons_ were generally the only boarders in the house. If not numerous enough to occupy the entire house, they had one hall for their exclusive occupation. Here they held their meetings, initiated new members, and kept their records and treasury. Here, also, _compagnons_ arriving from other towns made themselves "recognized" by special signs and symbols.
All the _compagnons_ of France were divided among three "orders" called _devoirs_. The _devoirs_ had strange names indicating the legends with which the origins of these organizations were connected. The _devoir_, "Sons of Master Jack" (_Enfants de Maitre Jacques_) was founded, according to the story, by one of the master-builders of King Solomon's Temple. The "Sons of Solomon" (_Enfants de Solomon_) were sure that their order was founded by King Solomon himself. The "Sons of Master Soubise" regarded another builder of Solomon's Temple as the founder of their _devoir_. Each _devoir_ consisted of a number of trades, and sometimes one and the same trade was divided between two _devoirs_.